Audra Tsanos from AudraRox

The lead singer of the local kindie band chats about her upcoming album and parenting in the city.

By Eileen Clarke Thu Jun 17 2010

Audra Tsanos, superstar

Her trademark hot-pink hair streaks may be gone, but musician Audra Tsanos's raw rock 'n' roll energy is as palpable as ever. Though she calls the release of her long-awaited sophomore disc, Too Much Fun, a "more polished" effort than her debut, it's no less potent.

"I pretty much made the first CD in my living room," says Tsanos of 2006's I Can Do It by Myself, a record thrown together in three weeks after Jack's Big Music Show (Nick Jr.) came calling. (The singer already had a huge fan base thanks to her work with local Music for Aardvarks classes.) For her second CD, Tsanos took it slow and enlisted the production help of They Might Be Giants drummer Marty Beller. Standout tracks include an ode to tantrums ("I'm Not Bad") and "You Can't Crawl in a Dress," a love letter to tomboys.

Tsanos can relate: She's the only girl in her Red Hook home, which she shares with husband Chris and sons Constantine, 13, and Aristotle, 11. The boys may have musical aspirations (they were both in the band Toxic Muffin), but Tsanos is no stage mommy. "They play music, they play their sports. I just want them to be kids," she says.

When it comes to her audience, she wants the grown-ups to be kids, too: "I try to inspire adults to remember to have fun," she says. "We forget. But your child is the perfect motivation to dance again, sing and be silly."

Food and frenzy "For a great birthday party spot, we like the Hope & Anchor Diner(347 Van Brunt St at Wolcott St, Red Hook, Brooklyn; 718-237-0276). They also have karaoke with drag queen Dropsy!"

Higher education "My boys take their private music lessons at School of Rock(630 Ninth Ave between 44th and 45th Sts, suite 602; 917-438-9141, schoolofrock.com)."

Having a ball "My kids love! I have taken them to 'fancy' bowling alleys, but they like it old-school style at Maple Lanes(1570 60th St between 15th and 16th Aves, Dyker Heights, Brooklyn; 718-331-9000, bowlmaple.com)."